Munster Junior B Football Final:
Shannon Rovers (Tipperary) 1-08 St Oliver Plunketts (Cork) 1-06
In a change of guard for Knockaderry’s Munster Junior B Football competition Shannon Rovers became the 1st club from Tipperary to win the Munster Junior B Football title in a competition normally dominated by the Junior clubs from Kerry.
Conditions in Ballyagran were near perfect considering the volume of rain that fell overnight. John O’Halloran from the Bruree club in Limerick took charge of this contest. The opening exchanges were tight and tense with both teams eager to keep the mistakes to a minimum. The 1st score took 8 minutes to register and it came from the Tipperary champions. Plunketts levelled things on the 12 minute with a fine score. Shannon Rovers were starting to dominate the exchanges from here and quickly moved into a 2 point lead. It could have been a tighter game score wise but for some wayward shooting from St Oliver Plunketts. Plunketts managed to hit the front with a well taken goal on the 20th minute and quickly added to their scoreline with a fine point to put them 2 points up. The last score of the 1st half fell to Shannon Rovers to leave the minimum between them at half time. The 2nd half saw the Tipperary men retake control of the contest. They had 2 points on the board early to move into a 1 point lead. Twice they were denied by superb saves from Brian Walsh in the Plunketts goal. The sides were level on the 40th minute when Plunketts struck for a point. The decisive event of the game came in the 43rd minute when Shannon Rovers were awarded a penalty which was expertly put away by Conal Moran. By the 50th minute the Tipperary Champions had moved 5 points clear. From here they seemed contented with what they had and retreated in defensive mode. This seemed to spur on St Oliver Plunketts whom were now afford all the attacking opportunities by Shannon Rovers. Point by point St Oliver Plunketts crawled their way back into the contest and the 5 point lead was soon down to a 2 point lead on the 59th minute. They had several chances after that and while they were trying to work that goal chance one wonders if they had taken their points would that have proven more fruitful for them. As it was the Tipperary champions battled into 4 minutes of injury time to make history and become the competitions first Tipperary champions.
Knockaderry would like to thank all 6 teams, Ballylanders, Shannon Rovers, St Oliver Plunketts, Erins Own, Kilmihil & CLG Lios Poil for making another memorable tournament for us. Again the standard of football was excellent. Sincere thanks to Castletown Ballyagran GAA Club for hosting our competition this year. Your facilities are top class. Thanks to our 2 referees, Ciaran Murphy of Cork and John O Halloran of Limerick and their teams of officials whom between them looked after the 5 games. Thanks to the officers of Knockaderry & Castletown Ballyagran GAA clubs who helped out with each of the 5 games. Volunteerism at its best. Thanks to the media for all your support in promoting our competition. Thanks to the Limerick County Board and the Munster GAA Council for the support in affording us the opportunity to run our competition. Thanks also to Mark Foley and his family for their hospitality post games in Foleys Bar.